Cover-up investigation into top cop stalls

CHARGES against a senior police officer accused of perjury and misleading the Office of Police Integrity have been dropped by the Office of Public Prosecution.

Inspector Mark Edwards was one of 17 police accused of trying to derail an investigation into a fellow officer who crashed his car into a hotel while more than twice the legal blood-alcohol limit.

No reason was given for the about-face when it was announced to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a mention hearing on Thursday morning. Victoria Police has agreed to pay the Inspector's costs.

"The matter was withdrawn because the evidence was insufficient and there was no reasonable prospect of conviction," OPP spokeswoman Lisa Walker said.

The move follows a lengthy investigation by the force's internal investigators under the watch of the Office of Police Integrity and Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.

Inspector Edwards, who was suspended without pay in August after being charged, is now expected to face an internal disciplinary hearing.

The extent of the alleged cover-up was revealed in documents released to the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information laws.

An 18-month probe led to 10 police being accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by interfering in an investigation, while six other officers and a police public servant were accused of failing to obey orders.

Inspector Edwards was the only one to have faced criminal charges.

The corruption probe centres on an investigation into former Bendigo senior constable Dean Robinson who crashed his car into the Queens Arms Hotel, Bendigo, in November 2011.

No one was injured but Robinson fled the scene and drove home, where he later recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.111.

The OPI reviewed the crash investigation following concerns it had not been properly conducted, with claims breath testing Robinson was delayed for more than three hours after one officer provided a zero blood reading on his behalf, which was not subsequently used or recorded. In Victoria police cannot request a breath test from someone if they have not been driving in the previous three hours.

The network of accused crooked cops includes a superintendent, a senior sergeant, four sergeants, six leading senior constables, three senior constables and a police public servant.

A sergeant and the public servant have already been sacked and another sergeant and a senior constable have resigned. Two leading sen-constables have been given internal police good behaviour bonds and fined, with a Sen-Constable also placed on a good behaviour bond. Other members remain under investigation.

Senior police have refused to comment on "an active investigation", other than to say that it involved 'inappropriate emails, inappropriate use of police resources; poor leadership and judgment" in relation to an internal investigation.

In March last year, Robinson pleaded guilty to drink-driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. He was fined $7000 and lost his licence for 11 months, with no conviction.

Magistrate Richard Wright said Robinson had 'had a skinful" when he got into his car and drove home.

"In the past this was the standard way of operating by members of the Victorian Police Force. That culture has changed," Mr Wright said.

More than nine months after the crash Robinson resigned, while force command was still considering whether to sack him.